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Self-cycle
Our beliefs affect how we interact <-> How we interact with others affect our beliefs
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Self-concept
The sum total of beliefs people have about themselves
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Sources of self-concept
- Introspection
- Perceptions of our own behaviour
- Autobiographical memories
- Other people
- Our culture
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Person factors of the self-concept
- Introspection
- Perceptions of our own behaviour
- Autobiographical memories
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Introspection
- Examining one's own inner thoughts and feelings
- Narrated self - Full stories about oneself
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Flaws of introspection
- Strong motives may cloud self-insight
- Overestimation of positives
- Confusion
- Failure to anticipate future emotions
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Affective forecasting
Failure to anticipate strong emotions
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Self perception theory
When internal cues are difficult to interpret, people look to their behaviour
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Autobiographical memories
- Past memories influence how we see ourselves now
- Memories are self-centered
- Memories may not be accurate
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Categories of elements of the self concept
- Person factors
- Situation factors
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Situation factors of the self-concept
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Principle of situationism
Aspects of the self-image may change depending on the situation
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Social comparison theory
- People evaluate their own abilities and opinions by comparing themselves to others
- Particularly when there is no objective standard
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Types of comparison
- Upward - People who are 'better'
- Downward - People who are 'worse'
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Referent choices for the goals: Assess performance, Improve, Feel better
| Goal | Referent choice |
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| Assess performance | Similar other | | Improve | Superior other | | Feel better | Inferior other |
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Types of social cultural personality
- Independent
- Interdependent
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Independent view
- Self-distinct and autonomous
- Separate from others
- Defined by individual traits
- North America, western Europe
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Interdependent view
- Connected to others
- Defined by social duties and shared traits
- Mediterranean, East Asia, Africa, and Latin America
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Working self-concept (situationism)
Subset of self-knowledge that is brought to mind in a given context
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Distinctiveness (situationism)
Highlighting aspects of ourselves that make us feel unique in a given context
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Self-schemas
- Cognitive structure, derived from past experience
- Beliefs and feelings about oneself that guides processing of information
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Self-esteem
Overall positive or negative evaluation an individual has of themself
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Trait self-esteem
A person's enduring level of self-regard across time
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State self-esteem
The dynamic, changeable self-evaluations a person experiences as momentary feelings about the self
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Contingencies of self-worth model
Self-esteem is contingent on successes and failures in domains on which a person has based their self worth
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Sociometer hypothesis
Self-esteem is an internal, subjective index or marker of the extent to which a person is included or looked on favorably by others
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Components of self-discrepancy theory
- Actual self
- Ought self
- Ideal self
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Self discrepancy theory
Our self-esteem is defined by the match or mismatch between how we see ourselves and how we want to see ourselves
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Emotions if actual and ought selves differ
Guilt, shame, resentment
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Emotions if actual and ideal selves differ
Disappointment, frustration, sadness
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Focus of the ought self
Prevention focus
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Focus of the ideal self
Promotion focus
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Self awareness theory
Self-focused attention leads people to notice self-discrepencies
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Self-presentation
Strategies we use to shape what we think of ourselves and what others think of us
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Strategies in self-presentation
- Strategic self-enhancement
- Self-verification
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Self-enhancement
The desire to maintain, increase or protect one's positive self-views
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Better than average effect
Most people think they are above average on various personality trait and ability dimensions
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The better than average effect is strongest for,
- Personality traits (vs abilities)
- Positive (vs negative) dimensions
- Westerners (vs rest of the world)
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Self enhancement mechanisms
- Self-affirming
- Self-serving cognitions
- Self-handicapping
- Basking in reflected glory
- Downward social comparisons
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Self-affirmation theory
Maintaining an overall sense of self worth following psychologically threatening information by affirming unrelated values
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Self-serving cognitions
Beliefs about oneself that serve to enhance self-esteem
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